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Trump slams Starmer as ‘not Winston Churchill’ for refusal to back Iran strikes

President Donald Trump blasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Tuesday, saying, ‘This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with,’ amid a lack of support for the United States and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran.

The president spoke in the Oval Office ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Tuesday and took questions from reporters.

‘By the way, I’m not happy with the U.K. either,’ the president said, referring to Starmer blocking the United States’ use of U.K. bases to launch attacks on Iran.

Starmer initially blocked the U.S. from using British military bases, specifically Diego Garcia, for strikes against Iran during Operation Epic Fury. The U.K. later permitted the use of the bases for ‘defensive strikes’ after Trump’s complaints. 

The president referenced the Chagos Islands Tuesday, which are British territories in the Indian Ocean, saying it has taken ‘three, four days for us to work out where we can land there.’

‘It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised,’ he said.

UK prime minister discusses war with Iran

Trump added, though, ‘This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.’

Later, the president said the United Kingdom has been ‘very, very uncooperative with that stupid island.’ 

‘It’s a shame,’ Trump said. ‘That country, the U.K., and I love that country, I love it.’

‘My mother was born there,’ he said. ‘My father was born. Right? He knows all about my father. My father was born there. So, you know, very places that you sort of automatically very, very feel warmly about.’

The president said again, ‘This is not the age of Churchill.’

Starmer has defended his decision to stay out of the conflict, saying the U.K. was ‘not involved in the ​initial strikes against Iran, and we will not join offensive action now.’ 

‘But in the face of Iran’s barrage of missiles and ⁠drones, we will protect our people in the region,’ Starmer said in an address Monday to Parliament. ‘President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the ​initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I’ve done, and I stand by it.’

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Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to appear for House Epstein probe, Comer says

Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will appear voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee for its probe into Jeffrey Epstein.

Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed Lutnick’s appearance in a statement sent to Fox News Digital and other outlets on Tuesday.

‘Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,’ Comer said. ‘I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony.’

Lutnick is one of several high-profile people in business, entertainment and politics whose name has come up in the trove of Epstein files being released by the federal government.

Recently released photos showing him with Epstein have also served to heap scrutiny on the businessman-turned-Trump administration official, though Lutnick has denied any improper ties related to Epstein.

The White House also defended Lutnick when asked about his upcoming appearance.

‘Secretary Lutnick continues to be a critical asset for President Trump, having played a key role in securing major trade and investment deals. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick, remains focused on delivering more wins for the American people,’ White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital also reached out to the Commerce Department for comment.

Speculation around Lutnick’s Epstein ties took center stage last week when former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before the panel under subpoena for their own sworn depositions.

Unlike them, Lutnick was not subpoenaed and is appearing voluntarily.

Bill Clinton told the Oversight Committee he did not ‘remember ever having any conversation with him about Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.’

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton got into a heated back-and-forth with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., over her own relationship with Lutnick. 

Mace had asked Clinton about her relationship with Lutnick. The former secretary of state insisted her relationship with him went as far as recovery efforts from the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, when she had been a senator from New York and Lutnick was a businessman who lost hundreds of employees when planes hit the World Trade Center.

Mace suggested on X earlier on Tuesday that she would have moved to have Lutnick subpoenaed by the committee, shortly before Comer’s statement came out.

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WATCH: Clintons sharply divided on Trump testimony in closed-door House Epstein probe

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave very different responses to House lawmakers last week when asked whether President Donald Trump should testify in their Jeffrey Epstein probe, newly released video shows.

Both testified to the House Oversight Committee behind closed doors for hours in their hometown of Chappaqua, New York.

Each was also asked by the Democratic side whether Trump should come before the committee himself, given his own known past ties to the late financier and sex trafficker.

‘Absolutely,’ Hillary Clinton answered when the question was posed by Democrats’ staff.

She cited the civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll in which Trump was found civilly liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations that he sexually assaulted her, as well as the 34-count criminal verdict by a New York City court related to allegations he sought to cover up payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.

Neither case relates to Epstein, but Hillary Clinton claimed it proved a ‘pattern’ of behavior that would be relevant to the committee’s probe.

‘I think that it would be in keeping with the scope of the investigation of this committee to set up a deposition with President Trump. I know he’s been deposed many, many, many times. He’s taken the Fifth Amendment many, many hundreds of times,’ she argued.

‘So I’m not saying you’re going to get a lot of information, but given what’s in the files, and given past and prior conduct, he would be on my witness list.’

Bill Clinton’s response was far more muted, however.

When asked by Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the committee’s top Democrat, whether Trump should be called in, the former president did not express support one way or another.

‘That’s for you to decide. But he did know him well, and I once had a brief discussion with him about it,’ Bill Clinton said.

Garcia attempted to move on to the next Democratic lawmaker before Bill Clinton cut in again, ‘I hate this, because I don’t believe I should inject anything, but I do not want to leave the impression, but since there was no follow-up question, he never — the president never, this is 20-something years ago, never said anything to me to make me think he was involved in anything improper with regard to Epstein, either.’

‘He just said, ‘We were friends. And then we had a falling out over a land deal, property deal.’ That’s all,’ Bill Clinton said.

He then said the conversation occurred on Trump’s golf course and that he ‘somehow’ knew that the former president had flown on Epstein’s plane.

‘And he said, you know, ‘We had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal.’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry it happened.’ That’s all,’ the former president said.

His deposition included far fewer dramatic moments on the whole than his wife’s, who was confronted by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and others during multiple explosive points in her own deposition.

At one point, Hillary Clinton even temporarily stormed out of her seat after it was discovered that Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., had run afoul of the deposition’s rules by posting a photo of the former secretary of state.

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Mamdani putting NYPD ‘between rock and a hard place’ in move that could ultimately help his goal: expert

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent reactions to law enforcement, which some have interpreted as pushing back against the New York Police Department, likely won’t hurt him as much as previous mayors, a local crime expert told Fox News Digital, and could end up working to his overall political advantage. 

‘It may not hurt Mamdani in the way that it might hurt another mayor,’ said Manhattan Institute fellow Rafael Mangual. 

‘I do think that Zohran Mamdani is OK with being an opponent and a critic of the NYPD. I think he comes from a sort of ideological perspective that does not believe that the NYPD actually reduces crime. So, if the NYPD pulls back and crime goes up, I think he will see that as an opportunity to further criticize the NYPD and point to reasons why it should be defunded in favor of this Department of Community Safety and some of these other proposals that he would much rather invest in.’

Two significant events in the city indicate that the mayor will not defend the police department, according to Mangual, and could result in cops pulling back due to lack of support. They include an incident last month in Washington Square Park, dubbed ‘Snowballgate,’ where a mob of roughly 100 people pelted NYPD officers with snowballs, leaving two officers injured. 

Rather than condemning the assault, Mamdani appeared to downplay the violence, referring to the perpetrators as ‘kids’ taking part in a snowball fight. 

‘Mamdani did not come out in support of the NYPD in that incident. Instead, he seemed to kind of brush it off and even refused to call for the prosecution of the perpetrators,’ Mangual said, adding that the actions of the mob clearly qualified as an assault against police officers. 

‘Unfortunately, I think the mayor’s response was found wanting. He seemed unwilling to condemn it as an assault. He seemed unwilling to even say that it was something that shouldn’t be done in the future, and I think that is going to create a sense in the NYPD that this administration does not have their back.’

Perhaps more concerning, according to Mangual, was Mamdani’s reaction to a recent officer-involved shooting in Queens where, despite bodycam footage showing an officer being immediately attacked with a deadly weapon after entering a home at the owner’s invitation, Mamdani called on the district attorney to not prosecute the knife wielding suspect who was reportedly having a mental health episode. 

NYC Mayor Mamdani faces backlash for downplaying snowball attack on NYPD officers

Additionally, Mamdani visited the attacker and his family after the incident.

‘For Mayor Mamdani to come out and not just meet with the family as if this individual is some sort of crime victim, but to also make an open call to the Queens DA not to prosecute the individual for the obvious and clear assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, I think is just completely irresponsible,’ Mangual said. 

‘But it also will reinforce that sense in the NYPD that I think is already existing: that this administration is an opponent, not a partner. And if that dynamic continues, and it reaches further down into the rank and file, I do think that the city is going to see a more reluctant police force at a time in which it needs it to be proactive.’

As a candidate, Mamdani attempted to distance himself from previous support of police defunding but faced backlash last month when he announced that part of his plan to balance the budget involves cutting the NYPD’s budget and canceling 5,000 new officer hires.

‘I think what we’ve seen in the early days of this administration is that Mamdani is not yet willing to position himself as an open partner of the NYPD,’ Mangual said. ‘He is still trying to make a decision about whether he is going to lean into his more natural identity of an opponent of the NYPD.’

The NYPD is ‘between a rock and a hard place’ under Mamdani, Mangual said, adding that officers will be ‘less likely to put their lives on the line for a city that they do not feel has their back.’

‘He’d be perfectly happy with a world in which he can say, ‘Look, the NYPD is a failure, it’s not keeping crime down, it’s time to try other approaches,” Mangual said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment. 

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Rubio urges Americans in Middle East to register for evacuation assistance; slams Iran run by ‘lunatics’

The State Department revealed communications with Congress on getting Americans out of the Middle East as Democrats on Capitol Hill say the department is ‘refusing to help people leave the region.’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed concerns about Americans still remaining in the Middle East with reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday, telling U.S. citizens abroad that ‘we need to know where you are’ in order to successfully help them evacuate. 

‘9,000 Americans have been able to leave the region since the start of this war,’ Rubio said. ‘We have about [1,500] Americans that are requesting assistance with departure. We have identified and continue to identify charter flights, military flight options and expanded commercial flight options, meaning working with the airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats.’

‘Here’s the message I want to deliver Americans who are in the Middle East and in need of assistance… we need to know where you are,’ Rubio added. ‘We need to have contact information for Americans that need assistance. They have to register with us because, as these options begin to open up and as they open up we have to be able to call you, we have to be able to reach you, we have to be able to know where you’re staying so we can get this information to you and coordinate appropriately.’

Rubio strongly encouraged Americans still remaining in the Middle East to utilize the department website to initiate the proceedings to safely evacuate.

The Department of State told Fox News Digital that the department has been in ‘constant contact’ with Congress, specifically related to getting stranded Americans back home. 

‘The State Department is in constant contact with members of Congress in order to provide American citizens in the Middle East with assistance and accurate information on the security situation in the region, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital in a statement. ‘There is no greater priority than the safety of American citizens both at home and abroad.’

‘The State Department has reached over a thousand Congressional staffers with briefings on the security situation on the Middle East and continues to be in constant contact with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee to ensure that their constituents have the facts on available support and assistance,’ Pigott added.

Democrats in Congress have accused the Trump administration of not assisting in getting trapped Americans out of the area. 

‘So the State Department is forcing everyone to immediately leave the region but is also refusing to help people leave the region,’ Sen. Chris Murphy, D-CT posted to X. ‘The strike itself is illegal and disastrous but their lack of readiness for what comes next is unforgivable as well.’

‘Incompetence everywhere,’ Murphy added.

Sources at the State Department told Fox News Digital that they contacted the Consular on the Hill with approximately 130 emails and calls from 88 congressional offices through Monday evening, seeking information to provide constituents or request information about citizens in the region. 

The department also told Fox that they communicated with more than 1,300 congressional staffers, held three webinars covering the security situation, and have been in constant communication with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee on Embassy operating status, regional requests for additional interceptors, and other military equipment. 

The department says they made 60 emails and a dozen calls on policy-related questions, briefing requests, and general inquiries from Congressional offices.

Rubio told reporters on Tuesday he is confident that the administration will be able to safely evacuate all U.S. citizens out of the region. 

‘Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics,’ Rubio said. ‘They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism [so] the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things… now is the time to go after them.’ 

During an interview with Fox News Digital, Kristy Ellmer, from New Hampshire, described the ‘shock waves’ and ‘red bursts in air’ she witnessed while with her husband in Dubai.

‘We were just sitting on the beach. We hadn’t been watching the news or anything, just enjoying the morning,’ Ellmer said. ‘All of a sudden, we felt explosions.’

She was scheduled to leave Dubai on Sunday, though she dealt with flight cancellations for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

On Saturday, Iranian airstrikes hit Dubai International Airport as the country exchanged blows with the U.S. and its Israeli allies. 

She still remains in the region, hoping to get out of the country by the end of the week.

Fox News Digital’s Jessica Mekles contributed to this report.

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Top Israeli military official reveals operation against Iran involved ‘strategic and operational deception’

As Israel wages what it describes as an existential campaign against Iran, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the war has reinforced a fundamental strategic shift in how Israel sees itself and its alliances, particularly with the United States and regional partners.

‘Israel was never part of this region. We thought we were part of Europe,’ he said. ‘Since the Abraham Accords started, we are having good relations with our neighbors. We are part of this region now.’

He described the 2020 agreements as transformative, building on the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. ‘The military cooperation is great. Some of the things are overt and some covert,’ Defrin said in his first English-language media interview since the beginning of the conflict. ‘Iran is a regional threat, and that is clear to everyone now.’

But he stressed the campaign against Tehran is not only regional.

‘It’s a worldwide problem, it’s a global problem, it’s a regional problem and it’s also an Israeli problem,’ he said. ‘They are not hitting only Israel.’

Months of Deception

The spokesperson revealed that the operation was preceded by months of strategic deception.

‘It was a strategic and operational deception,’ he said.

On the eve of the strike, senior officials deliberately maintained routine appearances.

‘Friday night we went to dinner at home. The chief of staff and I returned late in cars that were not our official vehicles. The official cars stayed at home, and we made sure that from satellite imagery it would not look like the Kirya (ministry of defense) was full while all the planes were armed and ready.’

He said Iran was caught off guard. ‘For many long months there was deception, so they were surprised. They fired what they had pre-planned in their preset response.’

‘A Mutual Operation’

The spokesperson said the strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was carried out in coordination with the Trump administration. ‘It was a mutual operation,’ he said. ‘The cooperation between us and the American military is amazing. We have mutual planning and mutual executing for the plans in Iran and beyond.’

He framed the operation as part of unprecedented U.S.-Israeli military coordination. The entire operation in Iran is a mutual and coordinated campaign,’ he said.

He also described a broader international dimension. ‘It’s a problem with the United States of America as well,’ he said, citing attacks by Iranian-backed groups that have killed American service members and threatened shipping lanes.

‘They are posing a threat to the Red Sea… the movement of naval ships in the Suez Canal dropped by 90% since the Houthis started shooting at ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait,’ he said. ‘It’s a global problem. It’s a terror regime. They are acting all over the world. And again, we had to act.’

He added that regional states increasingly understand the threat. ‘Israel is here to stay. You see the countries of the region placing their trust in Israel.’

Strike on Iranian Targets

Addressing reports that dozens of senior Iranian figures were eliminated in a strike on Tuesday, including claims that 88 members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts were killed, he dismissed the figures.

‘We struck a few targets involved in terrorism. We still don’t have any battle damage assessment. Once we have it, we will publish it. It’s too early.’

He emphasized that the targets were military. ‘We struck military targets,’ he said. ‘They are attacking population centers.’

According to the spokesperson, Israeli intelligence shows Iran is deliberately aiming at civilians ‘to exact a price,’ including launches toward civilian infrastructure.

War Aims

Explaining the decision to launch the campaign, the spokesperson described Iran as an imminent existential threat.

‘We didn’t have another choice, unfortunately. It’s an existential imminent threat. This is a terror regime,’ he said.

‘They declared it. Whatever they declared, they did.’

Asked whether regime change is an objective, he drew a distinction between military aims and political outcomes.

‘As a member of the military, I cannot say we have an aim to remove the regime,’ he said. ‘But definitely, we want to weaken it and create the conditions that one day this regime will be removed by its own people.’

As fighting expands to Lebanon following renewed Hezbollah fire, he reiterated Israel’s view of Iran as the head of a regional network.

‘Hezbollah is an octopus. The head of the octopus is in Iran.’

For Israel, he said, the campaign has clarified a strategic reality shaped by the Abraham Accords and deepened U.S. cooperation. ‘We are part of this region now.’

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Iowa State to cut gymnastics program amid controversy

  • Iowa State University has announced plans to discontinue its women’s gymnastics program.
  • The decision follows the abrupt cancellation of the team’s season due to what ISU’s athletics director called ‘unreconcilable differences.’
  • Coaches’ contracts will not be renewed, and athletes can either transfer or stay at ISU with their scholarships honored.

Iowa State University announced March 3 that it is cutting its women’s gymnastics program, weeks after abruptly canceling the remainder of the season due to what athletics director Jamie Pollard said were ‘unreconcilable differences’ in the program.

Cyclone gymnasts were informed of the decision to cut the program by ISU associate athletics director Shamaree Brown in a meeting on Tuesday morning, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports Network.

Iowa State gymnastics head coach Ashley Miles Greig and her three assistant coaches were told that their contracts would not be renewed, the university’s news release stated. Miles Greig’s contract was set to expire after the season on June 30, 2026.

Cyclones gymnasts will have the option to remain at Iowa State to finish their degrees, or to transfer to another NCAA school to compete in gymnastics. If they stay at Iowa State, ISU will honor their scholarships. Iowa State’s release said its compliance department would work with the NCAA on waivers to help gymnasts receive an additional year of competition.

Tuesday’s announcement ended weeks of speculation about the program’s future that began when Iowa State canceled its gymnastics season on Feb. 8. In a statement at the time, Brown said the decision was because the Cyclones did not have enough athletes available to compete. In a letter to the gymnastics team and alumni on Feb. 17, Pollard wrote that the cancellation resulted from ‘a series of complex internal conflicts between individual teammates, coaching staff members, and parents,’ language that Iowa State repeated in Tuesday’s release.

In a video released by the school, Pollard said Iowa State would take the next several months to decide which women’s sport would replace gymnastics so that the athletics department remains compliant with Title IX, a federal law that requires NCAA schools to provide proportional participation opportunities to men and women.

“I also want to say, this is not a financial decision. This is a student-athlete experience decision,’ Pollard said in the video. ‘Adding another women’s sport will probably cost equal or more than what we’re already spending on the gymnastics program. This is about student-athlete experience.” 

Pollard said that Iowa State conducted reviews of its gymnastics program in 2018 and 2023 stemming from unspecified issues. The 2023 review, conducted by an external law firm, led Iowa State to part ways with then-head coach Jay Ronayne. Miles Greig was hired in April 2023.

Iowa State on March 3 denied USA TODAY Network’s public records request for the findings of the university’s 2018 and 2023 gymnastics probes. In an email denying the request, Ann Lelis, a member of Iowa State’s office of general counsel, cited portions of state open records law that prevent the disclosure of personal information of students or public employees. Lelis also said the requested records were not subject to disclosure because they contained confidential attorney privileged documents.

Pollard said he asked his senior leadership team ‘to meet with those individuals in our department that work really closely with our gymnastics program and make a recommendation to me about what we should do going forward.’

The leadership team recommended to Pollard that the school discontinue the gymnastics program, Pollard said, and use those resources for a different women’s sport. Pollard accepted the recommendation from his staff, and he spoke with university leaders. ‘We are all on the same page,’ he said. ‘This is the right decision for our athletics program and for our student-athletes.’

Iowa State’s annual financial report submitted to the NCAA for fiscal year 2025 showed the gymnastics program generated $287,392 in total operating revenues with $1.69 million in expenses, a gap of about $1.4 million. Iowa State allotted 14 scholarships to gymnastics.

Cyclone gymnastics recruits who had committed to the program for the 2026-27 season can commit to a different school or attend Iowa State and have their scholarship agreements honored.

Miles Greig could not be immediately reached for comment when contacted Tuesday morning by USA TODAY Sports.

Former Iowa State gymnast Shea Mattingly, whose last name was Anderson when she graduated in 2012, said she had been in contact with other former members of the team after Tuesday’s announcement.

‘We’re all frustrated. We’re all angry,’ Mattingly said. ‘That (Pollard) video made us all really mad, honestly. … It places all the blame on these student-athletes whereas the administration’s accountability in this, they hired these coaches that maybe it seems like they couldn’t handle the program.’

Mattingly said she and other alums aren’t giving up hope on the future of the program.

‘I think we’re still going to fight,’ she said. ‘So we’re going to send emails. We’re going to call. We’re going to do all we can, even though it seems his mind has been made up.’

This story will be updated.

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NFL franchise tag deadline: Which players got tagged?

A critical decision day came and went for several NFL teams.

Ahead of the start of free agency next week, the deadline for organizations to issue the franchise tag Tuesday. Teams were forced to make up their minds on whether to use the expensive tool to protect their negotiating rights with top players. Using the tag can ensure that teams at least have a stopgap solution in contract talks, though it also provides an additional hurdle as organizations try to get under the salary cap in advance of the new year.

Here’s a look back at how it all went down:

Transition tag for Colts’ Daniel Jones

The Indianapolis Colts are hedging their bets with Daniel Jones, applying the transition tag to last year’s QB1. That means at least a $37.8 million placeholder as he and the team continue working toward an expected reunion − though the Colts would get nothing in return of another team signs Jones to an offer sheet they’re unwilling to match.

Tagging Jones, who ranks fifth on Nate Davis’ top 100 free agent rankings for USA TODAY Sports, also means Indianapolis WR Alec Pierce, who led the NFL in yards per catch the past two seasons and is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign, will hit the market − unless he and the team can reach a new accord by March 11.

Trey Hendrickson in the clear

Trey Hendrickson is finally set for his long-awaited shot at a sizable multiyear contract.

Both ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Tuesday that the Cincinnati Bengals will not use the franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowler.

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the NFL scouting combine that he wouldn’t rule out the maneuver, but he also acknowledged that he didn’t want to tip his hand to other teams.

‘And in terms of the tag, we’re still moving through that,’ Tobin said. ‘I don’t have a definite answer there. We have resources, and how we deploy them are things that will come out.’

Hendrickson, 31, figures to be one of the most sought-after defensive players on the market after he failed to reach a long-term deal with the Bengals last season, which led to a stalemate between the two sides that ended early in training camp.

No franchise tag for Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III

Kenneth Walker III is about to go from Super Bowl MVP to hitting the open market.

The Seattle Seahawks will not use the franchise tag on the running back, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, setting him up to potentially cash in elsewhere on his title-winning run.

Walker, who ranks 17th on Nate Davis’ top 100 free agents, now could be the most attractive veteran free agent ball carrier after the New York Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall earlier on Tuesday. The four-year veteran logged a career high 1,309 yards from scrimmage last season.

If Walker departs, Seattle could have a significant need in the backfield. Backup Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a divisional-round playoff win over the San Francisco 49ers, leaving his availability for the start of the season in question.

Jets give franchise tag to Breece Hall

The New York Jets aren’t taking it down to the eleventh hour to make their plans known with running back Breece Hall.

The Jets have placed the franchise tag on Hall, according to multiple reports, keeping arguably the top potential free agent running back from hitting the open market.

Jets general manager Darren Mougey revealed last week at the NFL scouting combine that the team would look to retain Hall, who came in at No. 10 on Nate Davis’ top 100 free agent rankings, by using either the franchise or transition tag designation, if needed.

‘We’ll find a way to keep Breece here if we can’t get a deal done,’ Mougey told reporters. ‘The tags are an option. Ideally, we’d find a way to get a deal done and keep Breece around. I think I’ve said that for the last year since I’ve got here. Breece is a good player. We want to find a way to keep him around. We’ve been going through that process and are still doing so. We have a week to find out if we can’t get to an agreement which way we’ll go with that tag.’

Utilizing the franchise tag designation would come at a price of $14.3 million for one year if a multiyear contract can’t be reached.

Which NFL players have already received the franchise tag?

Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens: The Cowboys officially placed the non-exclusive tag on Pickens last Friday. The receiver had ranked as the No. 1 player on USA TODAY Sports’ top 100 rankings, but he will not hit the open market. Instead, he’s been provided a tender of $27.298 million – a relative one-year bargain amid a booming market for receivers.

Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Sr.: The No. 4 overall pick in 2021 had a tumultuous five-year run to start off his career in Atlanta, but the new regime made it a priority to not let him depart. ‘We’re not in the business of letting go (of) really good players,’ first-year general manager Ian Cunningham told 92.9 The Game last week. Pitts is coming off a season in which he posted career highs of 88 receptions and five touchdown catches, and he could play a vital role in helping third-year signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. find his comfort zone in new coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense.

New York Jets RB Breece Hall: Gang Green could be in for plenty of changes this offseason, but losing Hall doesn’t appear to be one of them. The Jets on Tuesday placed the franchise tag on the running back, giving him a one-year tender of $14.293 million if he can’t come to terms on a multiyear contract with New York by the July 15 deadline.

What is a franchise tag?

The franchise tag is a mechanism by which teams can prevent one impending free agent per offseason from hitting the open market. The degrees of protection and potential compensation for the team vary by designation:

  • Non-exclusive franchise tag: By far the most popular category for teams, this serves as a deterrent for other teams but still provides a window for a potential exit. Players who receive this may still negotiate and sign an offer sheet with outside teams. The organization that issues the tag, however, has the right to match the terms of any agreement, and it would receive two first-round picks from the team that signed the player if it lets him depart. Given that cost, it’s rare for players to receive this designation and still exit in that manner, though sometimes tag-and-trade scenarios are executed at a lower cost for the acquiring organization.
  • Exclusive franchise tag: This provides the assigning team with absolute protection, as any player receiving this cannot negotiate or sign an offer sheet with a competitor. Yet it comes at a heightened cost, which can be prohibitive for any franchise considering utilizing it.
  • Transition tag: Like the nonexclusive franchise tag, it still allows for players to negotiate with other teams while providing the issuing franchise the opportunity to match any offer sheet. Refusal to do so, however, will not yield any draft compensation.

When is the NFL’s franchise tag deadline?

NFL teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to decide whether to issue a franchise or transition tag on one player. If they do, they may continue negotiating toward a long-term contract, or the player can sign his one-year tender. A multiyear deal must be reached by July 15, or the player only has the option of playing the upcoming season on a one-year deal.

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We pick the best fits for the NFL’s 25 best free agents

March free agency madness is just days away.

NFL teams are allowed to contact free agents starting at noon ET on March 9. Free agents can officially sign contracts when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET March 11.

Linebacker Devin Lloyd, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, quarterback QB Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Mike Evans are some of the top free agents available. But where are the best landing spots for the marquee free agents?

USA TODAY Sports explores the best fits for the top 25 free agents before the free agency period kicks off.

Best fits for Top 25 free agents

1. LB Devin Lloyd (2025 team: Jaguars)

Best fit: 49ers

Imagine a 49ers defense with Lloyd and Fred Warner in the middle at linebacker. San Francisco would instantly form this generation’s version of Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Lloyd would also help ease the load off Warner, who is set to return from a 2025 season-ending ankle injury.

2. Edge Trey Hendrickson (2025 team: Bengals)

Best fit: Commanders

The Commanders were rumored to be interested in Hendrickson when he requested a trade following the 2024 season. Washington’s been in the market for a game-changing edge rusher. The Commanders ranked in the bottom half of the league in pass rush win rate in 2025 and has more than $70 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap, more than enough to take some big swings during free agency.

3. C Tyler Linderbaum (2025 team: Ravens)

Best fit: Chargers

Linderbaum is set to cash in as the best offensive lineman available. The Chargers by many metrics had the worst offensive line in football last season. Chargers C Bradley Bozeman, who was often exposed when d-lines performed stunts, announced his retirement in February. The Chargers have more than $85 million is salary cap space, per Over The Cap.

4. QB Daniel Jones (2025 team: Colts)

Best fit: Colts

It’s hard to see a scenario where the Colts let Jones walk, especially after the team gave Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade. Jones’ career was revitalized in Indy. He enjoyed career-highs in completion percentage and passer rating despite his year being cut to 13 games due to an Achilles injury.

5. WR Mike Evans (2025 team: Bucs)

Best fit: Bucs

It’d be odd to see Evans in another uniform. Evans has played all 12 of his seasons in Tampa Bay. He’s the Bucs’ all-time leading receiver and, even at 32, still has a role as Tampa Bay’s X receiver.

6. RB Kenneth Walker (2025 team: Seahawks)

Best fit: Seahawks

Walker displayed his value during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. He put an explanation point on his worth during his Super Bowl MVP performance. Furthermore, Zach Charbonnet’s postseason knee injury makes Walker’s Seattle return essential.

7. Edge Jaelan Phillips (2025 teams: Dolphins/Eagles)

Best fit: Patriots

There is a world where Phillips re-signs in Philly. After all, he said he likes playing with the Eagles. But what about joining another contender in the Patriots? The Patriots have a talented defensive interior but lack sizzle on the edge. New England doesn’t have the cap flexibility of last year, but the Pats have enough to make a deal work.

8. Edge Odafe Oweh (2025 teams: Ravens/Chargers)

Best fit: Chargers

Oweh shined in a Chargers uniform after the Ravens shipped him to Los Angeles. The pairing of Tuli Tuipulotu and Oweh gives the Chargers a young and talented duo on the edge. He also serves as much-needed insurance in the event veteran Khalil Mack departs.

9. OT Rasheed Walker (2025 team: Packers)

Best fit: Browns

The Browns acquired right tackle Tytus Howard in a trade, but they still have a vacancy at left tackle. Dawand Jones is recovering from a serious leg injury. Cleveland ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate, per ESPN. Walker is the top tackle available.

10. QB Aaron Rodgers (2025 team: Steelers)

Best fit: Steelers

If Rodgers does return for a 22nd season, it’ll likely be to reunite with Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. The four-time MVP isn’t the QB he once was, but he’s still a capable starter who helped lead the Steelers to the playoffs.

11. WR Alec Pierce (2025 team: Colts)

Best fit: Raiders

The Raiders must supply presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza with more weapons. Pierce is a vertical threat who can help open the middle of the field up for TE Brock Bowers, and he’s a capable blocker, which will aid RB Ashton Jeanty.

12. QB Malik Willis (2025 team: Packers)

Best fit: Dolphins

The rebuilding Dolphins seem like a natural fit for Willis. New coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan know Willis well from their time together in Green Bay. Willis deserves another chance to be a starting quarterback after successful spot duty with the Packers.

13. OT Braden Smith (2025 team: Colts)

Best fit: Texans

Houston needs help across its O-line. Smith could slide in at right tackle, filling the void created by the Dawand Jones trade. The Texans ranked 30th in pass block win rate and last in run block win rate in 2025, per ESPN. C.J. Stroud’s been sacked 113 times in three seasons.

14. RB Travis Etienne Jr. (2025 team: Jaguars)

Best fit: Cardinals

James Conner is coming off a season-ending foot injury and will be 31 years old in May. Arizona had the worst rushing attack in the NFC last season. New coach Mike LaFleur needs to add more players no matter who plays QB.

15. WR Rashid Shaheed (2025 teams: Saints/Seahawks)

Best fit: Seahawks

Shaheed told USA TODAY Sports that he “absolutely” wants to re-sign with the Seahawks. He’s arguably the best return man in the league. He was the only player in the NFL in 2025 with both kick return and punt return touchdowns.

16. LB Quay Walker (2025 team: Packers)

Best fit: Titans

Cedric Gray finished fourth in the league in tackles (164). He had more than double the amount of tackles than any other Titans player. Defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh hopes to build Tennessee’s defense in his image. Walker has compiled more than 100 tackles in four straight seasons. Plus, the Titans have the most salary cap space in the NFL.

17. Edge Khalil Mack (2025 team: Chargers)

Best fit: Ravens

Mack contemplated retirement but decided to play in 2026, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The Chargers would welcome Mack back, but former Chargers DC and current Ravens head coach Jesse Minter could lure Mack to Baltimore. The Ravens have a Super Bowl-caliber roster that could entice Mack to come east. 

18. WR Romeo Doubs (2025 team: Packers)

Best fit: Titans

The Titans have the salary cap flexibility to be aggressive this offseason. Tennessee had the third-worst pass offense in the NFL last season. Calvin Ridley, Chig Okonkwo and Doubs would be a nice trio of pass catchers for second-year QB Cam Ward.

19. TE Isaiah Likely (2025 team: Ravens)

Best fit: Commanders

The Commanders have questions at tight end. Zach Ertz’s future is uncertain, as the 35-year-old Ertz is a free agent and is recovering from a torn ACL. The Commanders should upgrade the skill position players around Jayden Daniels. Likely would provide Washington with a younger and more explosive replacement at tight end.

20. Bradley Chubb (2025 team: Dolphins)

Best fit: Panthers

Miami informed Chubb of his imminent release. The Panthers defense produced 30 sacks last year, a number that put them near the bottom of the league. Panthers DC Ejiro Evero has done a good job with Carolina’s defense, but they lack a standout edge rusher who can complement defensive lineman Derrick Brown.

21. LB Nakobe Dean (2025 team: Eagles)

Best fit: Rams

Nate Landman was a good addition for the Rams last offseason, but Landman doesn’t provide much coverage flexibility. Dean is versatile option who would give the Rams a solid one-two punch at linebacker.

22. WR Tyreek Hill (2025 team: Dolphins)

Best fit: Chiefs

Chris Jones is already publicly recruiting Hill. A Hill and Chiefs reunion makes a ton of sense. The Chiefs haven’t adequately filled Hill’s void since they traded him. Kansas City would provide Hill a comfortable and familiar place to rehab his knee injury and revitalize the back half of his career.  

23. OG Wyatt Teller (2025 team: Browns)

Best fit: Giants

The Giants have multiple linemen entering free agency, including guard Greg Van Roten. Teller is a guard you can plug in and play right away. He allowed three sacks and 24 pressures in 765 snaps for the Browns last season.

24. CB Riq Woolen (2025 team: Seahawks)

Best fit: Cowboys

Joining the Cowboys would be a homecoming of sorts for Woolen. The cornerback is from nearby Fort Worth, Texas. Woolen would provide much-needed help for Dallas in the secondary. The Cowboys had the worst pass defense in the NFL last season. Woolen’s registered 12 interceptions and has allowed 54% completion percentage when targeted through four seasons.

25. CB Alontae Taylor (2025 team: Saints)

Best fit: Bears

Taylor has the versatility to play in the slot or outside corner. His seven career sacks rank first in Saints history for sacks by a cornerback. The Bears ranked 29th in total defense, the worst among all playoff teams in 2025.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

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Trinity Rodman ‘fine’ after back injury scare, says USWNT coach

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has said Trinity Rodman is ‘fine’ after a back injury scare in the team’s SheBelieves Cup opener.

Rodman suffered the injury late in a 2-0 win over Argentina on Sunday, March 1.

Argentina midfielder Milagros Martin went into Rodman’s back with a tough challenge that left the star attacker on the ground for several minutes.

Rodman eventually got to her feet and tested out the injury with some slow jogs down the sideline. With the game already in second-half stoppage time, Rodman did not return before the final whistle.

Trinity Rodman injury update

At a press conference on Tuesday, March 3, Hayes provided some good news on Rodman — though the situation wasn’t as good for left back Lily Reale, who exited the game against Argentina just 15 minutes after coming on as a halftime sub.

‘Lily Reale has a foot injury and has gone home back to Gotham [FC],’ Hayes said. ‘And Trinity Rodman is fine and training today.’

Rodman has dealt with back issues for much of her career. After suffering a recurrence in 2024, Rodman returned for the start of the 2025 NWSL campaign only to be sidelined again just four games into the season.

The 23-year-old returned for the Washington Spirit in August, playing out the remainder of the campaign. Due to her back issues, Rodman only managed one USWNT appearance in 2025.

The USWNT will face Canada on Wednesday, March 4 in Columbus, Ohio and will close out the tournament against Colombia on Saturday, March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey.

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